accolades
7 January 2009
One of the smallest municipalities came out tops this year in the Western
Cape performance excellence assessment for local government. The Laingsburg
Municipality, smallest in the province, has received the biggest honour at the
Western Cape Vuna Award from Minister Pierre Uys, Minister of Local Government,
Environmental Affairs and Development Planning, at a gala event 12 November
2008 in Cape Town.
The award and prize of R750 000 in the category for local municipalities was
scooped up the first time by Laingsburg. The awards are the culmination of an
extensive review process. Overstrand and Swartland were respectively second and
third.
This year three of the five finalists were former project consolidate
municipalities that had been assisted to improve their functioning and service
delivery. Besides Laingsburg, Beaufort West and Matzikama made it to the
finals.
In the category for district municipalities Cape Winelands won the category
award and R750 000 prize money with West Coast marginally in the second
place.
The performance management system of Cape Winelands has been developed in
conjunction with the national department of provincial and local government,
and has been introduced in three Free State municipalities as a pilot
project.
Both winners (Laingsburg and Cape Winelands) are first time achievers under
this system and will compete for the national Vuna Awards on 10 December
2008.
Special awards went to Beaufort West (Most Improved), Overstrand (Most
Innovative), Hessequea (Best Public Participation), Matzikama and Drakenstein
(both for Excellent Service Delivery).
Metropolitan Councils compete at a national level.
âBesides encourage, measure and reward performance excellence of our
municipalities, we ensure the sharing of knowledge and best practices as well
as holding local government to account. All municipalities are continuously
monitored at various levels. The Vuna assessment for this year started in July
and culminated in the awards ceremony,â Minister Uys said.
Issued by: Department of Local Government and Housing, Western Cape
Provincial Government
7 January 2009
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government (http://www.capegateway.gov.za)
